Student Name:
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RECEIVE (read), REFLECT (answer questions), RECALL (close book, write from memory), RECITE (teach someone), REVIEW (spaced repetition), RESPOND (apply practically).
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of Elohim." — 1 Corinthians 10:31
Introduction: This workbook examines one of the most controversial topics in modern Christianity: biblical dietary laws. For 1,500+ years, most Christians dismissed Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 as "abolished" or "fulfilled" by Yahusha's death and resurrection. But what if the entire church has misunderstood key passages like Mark 7, Acts 10, and Romans 14? What if the apostles NEVER stopped observing food laws—and the shift happened later due to political pressure, not biblical teaching? This workbook will challenge everything you've been taught about "all things made clean."
What You Will Learn:
Key Scripture Themes:
Sacred Names Used: Yahuah (not LORD), Yahusha (not Jesus), Elohim (God). These are the restored Hebrew names for the Creator and Messiah used throughout this curriculum.
Target Audience: Adults and families transitioning to Torah-observant lifestyle
Study Time: 8–10 hours for complete workbook with practical application
Note on Controversy: This workbook contradicts mainstream Christian teaching on dietary laws. You will encounter arguments most pastors reject. Study Scripture carefully, examine the Hebrew and Greek text, research peer-reviewed health studies, and test whether the traditional interpretation of Mark 7 and Acts 10 truly fits the context. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Yahuah established clear criteria for clean land animals. They must have BOTH:
Either characteristic alone disqualifies an animal.
Cattle/ox, sheep, goat, deer, gazelle, roebuck, wild goat, ibex, antelope, mountain sheep
| Animal | Hebrew | Why Unclean |
|---|---|---|
| Camel | גָּמָל (gamal) | Chews cud but lacks divided hoof |
| Hyrax/Rock Badger | שָׁפָן (shaphan) | Chews cud but lacks divided hoof |
| Rabbit/Hare | אַרְנֶבֶת (arnevet) | Chews cud but lacks divided hoof |
| Pig/Swine | חֲזִיר (chazir) | Has divided hoof but does NOT chew cud |
Clean: Salmon, tuna, cod, bass, trout, herring, sardines, tilapia - all fish with fins AND removable scales
Unclean (Sheqets): Shrimp, lobster, crab, clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, catfish, eels, sharks, squid, octopus
Leviticus 11:13-19 lists twenty unclean birds: eagle, vulture, black vulture, kite, falcon, raven (all kinds), ostrich, nighthawk, sea gull, hawk (all kinds), little owl, cormorant, great owl, white owl, desert owl, osprey, stork, heron (all kinds), hoopoe, and bat.
John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6)—clean food according to Torah!
"Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet... these you shall not eat, for they are an abomination" (Lev 11:41-42). This prohibits snakes, lizards, rodents, and multi-legged crawling creatures.
1. Clean land animals must have a divided AND chew the .
2. The Hebrew word for "abomination" regarding unclean water creatures is .
3. Water creatures must have both and to be clean.
4. The pig has a divided hoof but does NOT .
5. The four permitted insects are locust, katydid, cricket, and .
Why do you think Yahuah made the pig appear clean externally (split hoof) but fail internally (doesn't chew cud)? What spiritual lesson might this teach?
Close this workbook. Write: The 2 requirements for clean land animals, the requirement for clean fish, and 3 examples of unclean animals.
Explain the Leviticus 11 clean/unclean laws to someone.
Person: Date:
Question:
Answer:
"For I am Yahuah your Elohim: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy..."
Write:
What I did:
Result:
Dietary laws immediately follow this identity declaration. This teaches an important sequence:
While Leviticus 11 provides criteria, Deuteronomy 14:4-5 names ten clean animals:
| Animal | Hebrew | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Ox | שׁוֹר | Domestic (suitable for sacrifice) |
| Sheep | שֶׂה כְשָׂבִים | Domestic (suitable for sacrifice) |
| Goat | שֶׂה עִזִּים | Domestic (suitable for sacrifice) |
| Deer | אַיָּל | Wild (clean for food) |
| Gazelle | צְבִי | Wild (clean for food) |
| Roebuck | יַחְמוּר | Wild (clean for food) |
| Wild Goat | אַקּוֹ | Wild (clean for food) |
| Ibex | דִּישֹׁן | Wild (clean for food) |
| Antelope | תְּאוֹ | Wild (clean for food) |
| Mountain Sheep | זֶמֶר | Wild (clean for food) |
This command appears THREE times in Torah (Exodus 23:19; 34:26; Deuteronomy 14:21), emphasizing its importance. It connects compassion for animals with holiness distinctions and likely prohibited a known Canaanite cultic practice.
1. The Hebrew phrase "am qadosh" means people.
2. "Segullah" means possession or special treasure.
3. The first three clean animals (ox, sheep, goat) were suitable for .
4. The remaining seven clean animals are animals, clean for food but not sacrifice.
5. The prohibition against boiling a kid in its mother's milk appears times in Torah.
Why is it significant that Yahuah declares Israel's identity BEFORE giving dietary instructions? What does this teach about grace and law?
Close this workbook. Write: Why does Deuteronomy start with "you are holy"? Name 3 of the 10 clean animals listed.
Explain the "holy people" context of food laws.
Person: Date:
Question/Answer:
"For thou art an holy people unto Yahuah thy Elohim, and Yahuah hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself..."
Write:
What I did:
Result:
Modern science has increasingly validated the wisdom embedded in Leviticus 11. Peer-reviewed research documents significant disease risks associated with animals Yahuah classified as unclean.
1. Trichinosis causes approximately cases worldwide annually.
2. The pork tapeworm causes - cysts in the brain.
3. Pork tapeworm is responsible for % of epilepsy cases in endemic regions.
4. HEV was found in % of U.S. grocery store pig livers.
5. Yersinia enterocolitica causes approximately illnesses annually in the U.S.
Does scientific evidence for health risks "prove" that food laws should be followed? Or do we follow them for different reasons? Explain your reasoning.
Close this workbook. Write: 3 diseases from pork, 2 parasites in pork, and why cooking doesn't solve all problems.
Items I missed:
Explain the scientific dangers of pork to someone who says "pork is fine if cooked properly."
Person: Date:
Question:
Answer:
"Who sit among the graves, and spend the night in tombs, eating pig's flesh and broth of unclean meat in their vessels."
Write:
What I did:
Result:
Shellfish process large volumes of water through filter-feeding, concentrating microorganisms up to 100 times from their environment. This bioaccumulation makes them "natural concentrators of pollutants."
1. Vibrio vulnificus causes % of all seafood-related deaths in the U.S.
2. The case-fatality rate for Vibrio septicemia exceeds %.
3. Paralytic shellfish poisoning is caused by toxins that are times more toxic than cyanide.
4. Cooking shellfish does destroy the saxitoxins that cause PSP.
5. Norovirus was found in % of oysters tested from UK growing beds.
Why do you think Yahuah called shellfish "sheqets" (abomination) rather than simply "tame" (unclean)? What might this stronger language indicate?
Close this workbook. Write: How shellfish concentrate toxins, 3 specific health risks, and why "cooking thoroughly" doesn't solve all problems.
Items I missed:
Explain to someone why shellfish are called "abomination" (sheqets) and the scientific evidence supporting this classification.
Person: Date:
Question:
Answer:
"They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, and their carcasses you shall regard as an abomination."
Write:
What I did:
Result:
Several New Testament passages are commonly cited as abolishing food laws. Careful examination of context reveals they address entirely different issues.
The context addresses "philosophy and empty deceit" (2:8), "worship of angels" (2:18), and "neglect of the body" (2:23). Paul warned against ascetic heresy judging Torah-keepers, not Torah itself.
| Passage | Common Claim | Actual Context |
|---|---|---|
| Mark 7 | "All foods clean" | Handwashing traditions (bread, not pork) |
| Acts 10 | Peter ate unclean | About Gentiles; Peter NEVER ate the animals |
| Romans 14 | Eat anything | Idol-meat controversy; uses "common" not "unclean" |
| 1 Timothy 4 | Food laws abolished | Gnostic asceticism forbidding marriage |
| Colossians 2 | Don't judge by diet | Pagan philosophy judging Torah-keepers |
1. In Mark 7, the dispute was about eating bread with unwashed .
2. Peter interpreted his vision as being about , not food.
3. Romans 14:14 uses the Greek word "koinon" meaning , not "akatharton" meaning biblically unclean.
4. 1 Timothy 4 describes false teachers who forbid - something Torah never prohibits.
5. Years after the resurrection, Peter said he had eaten anything unclean.
If Yahusha truly abolished food laws in Mark 7, why was Peter still keeping them years later in Acts 10? What does this tell us about the early believers' understanding?
Close this workbook. Write: What Mark 7 actually addresses, what "koinos" means, why Peter still kept food laws in Acts 10, and what Acts 10 was really about.
Items I missed:
Explain to someone what Mark 7 and Acts 10 actually teach vs. what they're commonly misinterpreted to mean.
Person: Date:
Question:
Answer:
"Elohim has shown me that I should not call any MAN common or unclean."
Write:
What I did:
Result:
Mainstream interpretation: The phrase is Mark's editorial comment, meaning Yahusha "declared all foods clean."
Torah-observant interpretation: The masculine nominative participle katharizon grammatically connects to the digestive process—the body's elimination "purges all foods." The KJV translates: "...goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?"
Yahusha's argument was: Ceremonial handwashing traditions do not spiritually defile. What comes from the heart (evil thoughts, murder, adultery) defiles—not eating bread with ritually unwashed hands.
He was NOT teaching: "Go ahead and eat pork and shellfish."
1. The Greek word katharizon is a participle meaning "."
2. The phrase "thus He declared" does NOT appear in the text.
3. Matthew's parallel passage specifically mentions eating with unwashed .
4. The Greek word bromata means .
5. In Jewish context, pigs were never considered (broma) to begin with.
Why is it important to understand the Greek grammar and context of Mark 7:19 rather than just accepting a translation? What lessons does this teach about Bible study?
Close this workbook. Write: The Greek phrase in Mark 7:19 and its grammatical analysis, what "katharizon" modifies, and 3 reasons the phrase was likely added.
Items I missed:
Explain to someone the Greek grammar issues with Mark 7:19 and why context matters for interpretation.
Person: Date:
Question:
Answer:
"This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
Write:
What I did:
Result:
This statement—approximately 10+ years after the resurrection—proves the apostles did NOT understand Yahusha as having abolished food laws.
The Council established requirements for Gentile believers:
These connect to Leviticus 17-18—laws for "strangers dwelling among Israel."
| Group | Time Period | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Nazarenes | 1st-4th century | Full Torah observance including diet |
| Ethiopian Orthodox | 4th century-present | No pork/shellfish, blood drained |
| Seventh-Day Adventists | 19th century-present | Leviticus 11 distinctions maintained |
| Messianic/Hebrew Roots | 20th century-present | Full Torah dietary observance |
1. The Jerusalem assembly under James remained "zealous for the " (Acts 21:20).
2. The (Jewish believers) maintained Torah observance into the 4th century.
3. The church condemned all interest as sin for years before changing its position.
4. The Orthodox Church still maintains dietary laws similar to Leviticus 11.
5. The Adventist Health Study showed % lower all-cause mortality among those following biblical diet patterns.
Why do you think the shift away from food laws occurred around the time of the Bar Kokhba revolt? What does this suggest about the motivations for the change?
Close this workbook. Write: 3 early church fathers who upheld food laws, when the shift began, and the connection to anti-Jewish sentiment.
Items I missed:
Explain to someone the historical church testimony regarding food laws and why the change occurred.
Person: Date:
Question:
Answer:
"But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Torah and in the Prophets."
Write:
What I did:
Result:
| Category | Clean Examples | Unclean to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Meat | Beef, lamb, goat, venison, bison | Pork (ham, bacon, sausage, pepperoni) |
| Poultry | Chicken, turkey, duck, goose, quail | Game birds without clear ID |
| Fish | Salmon, tuna, cod, tilapia, bass, trout | Catfish, shark, eel, all shellfish |
| Ingredient | What It Is | Found In |
|---|---|---|
| Gelatin | Usually from pig skin/bones | Jell-O, marshmallows, gummy candies, yogurt |
| Lard | Pig fat | Baked goods, refried beans, pie crusts |
| Pepsin | Often from pig stomach | Cheese, supplements |
| Carmine/Cochineal | Crushed insects (red dye) | Red-colored yogurt, candy, drinks |
| L-cysteine | Often from pig hair | Commercial bread, bagels |
| Natural Flavors | May contain pork derivatives | Ramen, soups, chips |
| Unclean Food | Clean Alternative |
|---|---|
| Bacon | Turkey bacon, beef bacon |
| Pepperoni | Beef pepperoni |
| Ham | Smoked turkey, roast beef |
| Shrimp | Clean fish prepared similarly |
| Pork sausage | Chicken, turkey, or beef sausage |
1. is usually made from pig skin and bones.
2. is pig fat often found in baked goods and refried beans.
3. Carmine (red dye) is made from crushed .
4. A clean alternative to bacon is bacon or beef bacon.
5. When at restaurants, always ask about cooking as some use lard.
Write a personal commitment for how you will apply what you've learned about clean eating:
How has this study changed your understanding of food laws? What is the most important truth you've learned?
Close this workbook. Write: 5 hidden unclean ingredients, 3 clean alternatives, and 3 strategies for social situations.
Items I missed:
Explain to someone how to practically apply clean eating in daily life, including reading labels and navigating social situations.
Person: Date:
Question:
Answer:
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of Elohim."
Write:
What I did:
Result:
Review each lesson at these intervals:
| Lesson | Done | D1 | D3 | D7 | D21 | D60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Clean/Unclean Animals | ||||||
| 2. Why These Laws? | ||||||
| 3. Before Sinai | ||||||
| 4. Yahusha and Food | ||||||
| 5. Acts 10 Vision | ||||||
| 6. Health Benefits | ||||||
| 7. Common Objections | ||||||
| 8. Practical Application |
Fill-in-the-Blank: 1. hoof, cud 2. sheqets 3. fins, scales 4. chew the cud 5. grasshopper
True/False: 1. False 2. True 3. False
Fill-in-the-Blank: 1. holy/set-apart 2. treasured 3. sacrifice 4. wild 5. three
True/False: 1. False 2. True
Fill-in-the-Blank: 1. 10,000 2. neurocysticercosis 3. 30 (or 30-70) 4. 11 5. 117,000
True/False: 1. False 2. True
Fill-in-the-Blank: 1. 95 2. 50 3. 1,000 4. NOT 5. 76
True/False: 1. False 2. False
Fill-in-the-Blank: 1. hands 2. people/Gentiles 3. common 4. marriage 5. never
True/False: 1. False 2. False
Fill-in-the-Blank: 1. cleansing 2. Greek 3. hands 4. foods 5. food
True/False: 1. False 2. True
Fill-in-the-Blank: 1. Torah/law 2. Nazarenes 3. 1,500 4. Ethiopian 5. 12
True/False: 1. False 2. True
Fill-in-the-Blank: 1. Gelatin 2. Lard 3. insects 4. turkey 5. oils
True/False: 1. False 2. True